When the European transfer window finally does open, Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti will have a number of areas to consider.

Reported targets for the new boss include defenders and midfielders from England and beyond but the Toffees’ options up top are looking increasingly thin.

Much will depend on the future of Richarlison, who is a reported target for Barcelona but even if the Brazilian stays at Goodison Park, the Everton strikeforce will need addressing.

Tosun Return

Cenk Tosun’s statistics during his brief loan spell at Crystal Palace rather sum up his Everton career. The Turkish international scored on his first start for the South London club, putting Palace ahead in a 2-2 draw with Manchester City but that would prove to be his only goal in five appearances.

Subsequently injured, the 28-year-old returned to Everton to face rehabilitation and an uncertain future. Palace revealed that they did have an option to buy the striker at the end of his loan spell but with Tosun set to be out until September, it’s likely that the Eagles will look elsewhere.

With 37 goals scored and 46 conceded in the first 29 games of 2019/20, defence may look to be a priority but the strikers are also a concern. European football is the goal at Goodison but the betting markets will continue to list Everton among the outside punts for a top four finish until the potency is restored.

Young Guns

Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Moise Kean represent the youth within this Everton squad but the two men have returned contrasting records across the 2019/20 campaign. England Under-21 International Calvert-Lewin appears to be finally delivering on his undoubted potential. An overall record of 32 goals in 125 games may be modest but his return of 13 in 27 EPL matches this season suggests that the best is yet to come.

Kean, meanwhile, arrived from Juventus with a strong reputation but a return of one goal from 26 matches is dismal by any standards. Admittedly, there are some brief substitute appearances in that tally, and Duncan Ferguson’s handling of the player may not have helped his confidence.

The contrast is underlined by Calvert-Lewin’s new contract while Kean is showing issues with ability and maturity.

Moving Forward

Circumstances may dictate that Carlo Ancelotti heads into the 2020/21 campaign with the same strikeforce currently at his disposal. Clearly, no club is going to take Tosun away from Everton while he’s under that injury cloud until January at least and at that stage, another loan spell may be the logical option.

Meanwhile, holding on to Richarlison is a priority and the Brazilian coupled with Calvert-Lewin up top appears to be Everton’s most likely pairing for the start of next season. The numbers do, however, suggest that Ancelotti needs quality back up at the very least and he could do worse than look to take on a loan deal for a promising youngster such as Tottenham’s Troy Parrott. There are other options but whatever the manager decides, this is an area that clearly needs to be addressed.